The story behind the new Focus RS – revealed

November 18, 2015

From the searing heat of Arizona to the icy wastes of the Arctic, and from the design studio to the crash lab, we are revealing the behind-the-scenes story of creating the new Focus RS. “Rebirth of an icon” shows the development of the latest generation of an automotive icon through a “warts and all” video documentary series filmed during every stage of the vehicle’s evolution. The inside story pulls no punches – following the Focus RS across the world as Ford Performance engineers and drivers put it to the test under the scrutiny of RS consultant and Gymkhana superstar Ken Block and Ford’s group vice president, Global Product Development and chief technical officer, Raj Nair. “The Focus RS is a unique performance vehicle with an incredible heritage. This creates enormous expectation and intense pressure that demands teamwork, sheer determination and a single-minded focus on delivering the ultimate Focus,” Nair said. “This access-all-areas documentary perfectly captures what is at times a bumpy ride.” Kicking off on Sept. 30, watch as the story unfolds in eight weekly episodes.

Episode 1: Project kick-off – “Top of the pyramid”

Block and Nair debate what the car should deliver, from behind the wheel of an early prototype

Episode 2: Design and development – “Bang, car is crashed!”

Crunching crashes put the new design to the toughest of tests

Episode 3: Hitting the road – “Really engaging the driver”

Block heads for Ford’s top-secret test facility, and indulges in some “hooning”

Episode 4: Test-track trials – “Oh my poor car!”

Block heads for Ford’s top-secret test facility, and indulges in some “hooning”

Episode 5: Arctic extremes – “A little too quiet”

It’s all about performance, as the Ford manufacturing plant in Saarlouis, Germany, gears up for production

Episode 6: Power struggle – “Getting into supercar territory”

It’s all about performance, as the Ford manufacturing plant in Saarlouis, Germany, gears up for production

Episode 7: Close scrutiny – “Not signed off”

Block makes a headline appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed – before the new car undergoes the final approval process

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